Folding table.



J. W. BEREMAN.- FOLDING TABLE. APPLICATION IILBD MAY 31. 1910.

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f e f j Z Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

J. W. BBREMAN.

FOLDING TABLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1910.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

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strips cl are hinged JOHN WORLING BEREMAN, OF LYONS, KANSAS.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t nted Feb. 21, 1911.

Application filed May 31, 1 910. Serial No. 564,325.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WORLING Bunn- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lyons, in the county of Rice and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a full and clear specification, the accompanying drawings, in wh1ch- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the tableerected or unfolded; Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the table in the act of folding; Fig. 3 a vertical fragmentary sectional view of one-half the table erected, the parts being shown somewhat enlarged as com pared with Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a similar view showing the parts folded; Fig. 5 a bottom view of the table erected; Fig. 6 a perspec tive view of the table closed; Fig. 7 a bottom view of one corner of the table showing the parts folded.

The object of this invention is to so construct the table that it'may be readily folded and unfolded and when folded shall occupy a minimum of space so that it may be conveniently stored and carried about from place to place, this compactness and portability adapting the table especially for use in connection with surgical operations and massage, osteopathic and t 1e that when the table is erected it will have a other treatments,

firmness and rigidity equal to a non-folding table, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

The table top is divided transversely midway its length to form two sections a eachof which is provided at its side edges and its outer-end edge with a depending flange 12', and each of which is also provided near its outer end with a pair of legs 0 pivotally connected at their. upper ends'tothe table top.

by horizontal pivots c, sup

these pivots being ported in suitable metal strips 01 rigidly '4 fastened to the under side of the table top.

There are four of these metal strips d two being attached ,to each of the table top sections and ;the pair carried by each section have their inner ends in abutting relation to the corresponding strips on the opposite section. The abutting ends of each pair of together by a plate 6.

v The striped are fastened to the table top sections in a vertically edge-wise position,

and the hinge plates 6 are like-wise edgewisely vertical, so that the strips (2 contribute rigidity to the tabletop while the plates 6 reference being had to parts being so constructed and arrangedadapt the two sections of the table to be folded one upon the other with. their edge flanges b in abutting'relation,. so that. when thus folded they form a box-like casing which will inclose the folded legs and the operating parts.

Each of the hinge plates 6 depends below the lower edges of the strips (Z and pivotally attached to each of its corners is a truss rod which extends outwardly toward the end of the table and has pivotally connected to its outer ends a short link f. The end of this link f overlaps and is pivotally connected to the upper end of a leg brace g which is fee pivotally connected to the adjacent one of the strips (Z in such manner that the leg brace lies in the same vertical plane with the truss rod f. The leg brace g at its lower end lies against one side of the adjacent table leg and is slidingly connected thereto by an eye or staple h carried by the leg, the brace being prevented from withdrawal from the staple or eye by means of a lug projecting upwardly and outwardly'from its lower extremity.

I have described the table as it appears when fully open. rods f and their link extensions f are in alinement and are held in that position by the legs and their braces g. In folding the table, it is obvious that the act of bringing one of the table top sections over upon the other table top section will cause the truss rods and their link eirten'sions to swing the upper endsof the. brace rods toward the ends of the table and thus cause the brace rods to swing the legs simultaneously inwardly, as shown especially in Fig. 2. These movements of the parts continue until the legs are nearly folded and the .table top sections are brought quite close together, whereupon the upper ends of the braces g strike against the under edges of the truss rods where they are connected to their link extensions and break upwardly the toggle formed by the truss rods and their links, thus permitting the partsto continue in their folding action; When completely folded, as shown in Fig. 4, the legs will lie within their respective table top sections, the truss rods will lie in a horizontal position adjacent to the respective'table top boards and the leg braces will lie directly under and edgewisely in alinement with the truss rods.

In unfolding or erecting the table, it, will be observed that the mere act of unfolding the In this position the truss top sections will simultaneously unfold the legs and biing the leg braces and the toggle trusses into the position shown in Fig. 3, in

which/position the leg braces and the toggle trusses will be in locked relation, WhlCll relation cannot be disturbed when the table is in its usual position except by breaking upwardly the joint between the table top sections and simultaneously swinging in both the leg structures. It will therefore be observed that when the table is erected it will have the maximum of rigidity and at the same time will be practically locked against accidental collapsing.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

for each table top ture and pivotally connecteolito the adjacent table top section, and a toggle truss connection between each leg brace above its pivot and the depending corner of the adjacent one of said hinge plates, for the purposeset forth.

2. In a folding table, the combination of a table top transversely divided, hinge plates pivotally connecting the table top sections and depending below their points of connec tion therewith, a pivoted leg structure attached to each table top section, leg braces connecting each leg structure to its table top section, and a pair of rods connecting the depending portion of each hinge plate to the adjacent leg brace, for the purposes set forth. c

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses this 21 day of Ma 1910. t

, J. W RLING BEREMAN. Witnesses:

W. S. Hines, 1 E. M. HINSHAW.I 

